Study economics, engineering, information technology, nursing and much more for a semester or two at one of the best universities in Malaysia – Universiti Putra Malaysia. Live in the heart of the bustling capital city of Malaysia and learn more about the world and yourself. It’s easy to apply and your study placement will be confirmed even in one day.

Studying at Universiti Putra Malaysia

Universiti Putra Malaysia is the right choice for those who want to challenge themselves academically at a top-class research university. The courses reflect the international standards of the Oxbridge (Oxford and Cambridge) model of teaching, and are part of the regular degree curricula of the university

Studying at Universiti Putra Malaysia is for you if…

You’re a university student looking for new challenges

You want to be able to choose among hundreds of courses to expand your knowledge

You want to improve your English and intercultural communication skills

You want to get to know life and culture in one of the most important cities in South East Asia

Master’s level courses

4000-level courses

The courses which have number 4 as the first number in the course code are 4000-level Bachelor/Master courses (MGM4149, for example). These courses can be acknowledged as Master’s level courses depending on your home institution. If you currently study in a graduate program, the 4000-level courses will automatically be marked as Master courses in your UPM Transcript of Records. You can find the 4000-level course lists here and the semesters when they are available in the Bachelor level course lists:

Teaching language

All the courses are included in the official curriculum of the university and are held in English. Since the main teaching language at the university is English, degree students, both Malay and international, and other exchange students attend the same courses.

How to choose the courses

When you submit your application to us please choose the faculty that best matches your major studies. You can choose 2–6 courses per semester. You need to have suitable study background for the studies at the faculty you are applying to and you must choose at least 2-3 courses from this faculty. If you wish to choose courses from other faculties to complement your major, there is no strict study background requirement, especially for the courses from the Faculty of Economics and Management. Please select your courses carefully. Unless you need to take courses worth 30 ECTS, it is recommended to choose a maximum of 5 courses. Please note that UPM reserves rights to changes in the course offering. Since UPM offers no tailor made exchange program with specific courses, students should be prepared for possible course changes. Pick some extra courses when making your initial course selection, in case one of your choices isn’t available. In the beginning of the semester, after arriving at the destination, you can still make some changes to your course plan if needed.

When are the courses organized?

Check that the courses you would like to take are organized during the semester you wish to partake. Please note that autumn semester is semester 1 (September intake) and spring semester is semester 2 (February intake).

Elective courses

Please note that elective courses are not organized every semester. The list of elective courses is finalized approximately a couple of months before the semester by the university.

Course descriptions

For more information, please visit the faculties’ own homepages. More detailed course descriptions are not available for all courses in English at the moment. If you are in need of a detailed course description for a certain course, please contact us.

Course requirements

There is a 80 % obligatory attendance. Failure to adhere to this requirement may lead to failing the course. Please note that the activities and excursions organized by your faculty or the international office are mandatory and may take place on weekends. They usually have a small fee.

Asia Exchange students can choose 2–6 courses per semester (max. a total of ~30 ECTS/18 US Credits) when studying in Kuala Lumpur. One completed course is usually worth 3 credits, which is generally converted to 5 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) study credits or 3 US credit points. Read more under study credits.

The university has extensive sporting facilities. There is, for example, a fully equipped gym, sports hall, outdoor swimming pool, under soil drainage football pitch, Astroturf pitch for hockey, and an excellent floodlit athletics and football stadium. UPM features also an Olympic-sized swimming pool located in the Swimming Complex and international-standard tennis courts in the Tennis Complex. Some of the best grass pitches in the country, including an 18-hole professional golf course, are also located on campus. Golf for free as much as you want!

There are some additional fees which become payable upon arriving in Malaysia, such as registration, orientation, co-curricular and other mobility fees as well as health screening fee (approx. 780 MYR in total). Please note that these fees are subject to change. In addition, there might be some academic expenses (such as books) for 200 MYR. The student visa costs about 1100 MYR in total (Student pass processing to be paid directly to UPM during registration) . Read more about the visa.

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences has also a Bench Fee of 4000 MYR per semester to cover the costs of facilities and equipment.

Benefits when applying via Asia Exchange

Confirmation even in one day

Asia Exchange Guide with lots of information e.g. about studies and accommodation and eVAL Guide

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in Kuala Lumpur is ranked as the second-best university in Malaysia (Times Higher Education 2019) and acknowledged among the top 200 universities in the world (QS World Ranking, place 159). UPM is a public university, founded in 1931. It has 16 faculties and approximately 32 000 students. The university is located in the capital of Kuala Lumpur and is among the elite institutions in the city. Find out more about Universiti Putra Malaysia.

A copy of the identification page of your passport. Please note that your passport must be valid for at least 12 months after arriving in Malaysia. If your passport expires earlier, please apply for a new one and submit it before the application deadline. Applications sent without a valid passport cannot be processed.

You might be asked to present the original documents to the host university upon arrival, so please save them after sending them with your application. Add a clear and new passport photo to the UPM Application Form above. You will also need 4 passport photos at the destination, for example for the UPM student card.

UPM requires all new students to bring a copy of their insurance certificate in English and valid for the whole duration of the semester for Student Pass processing at the beginning of the semester.

Uploading and submitting the attachments

Fill out the online application form below and submit it with the required attachments.

Uploading and submitting the attachments

Please upload the attachments in PDF format.

If possible, please submit all the attachments together with the application. If you’re missing some attachment(s) when you first apply, you can send the missing document(s) later. However, please note that we won’t process applications without any attachments whatsoever.

All attachments must be sent to us within 30 days of submitting the application or by the application deadline at the very latest.

There is a late application fee for applications or attachments submitted after the application deadline.

Confirmation and official acceptance letter

You’ll get a confirmation of your study placement in 1-7 days. You’ll receive the official acceptance letter about 2–3 months before the semester starts. We’ll send it as an electronic document by email. You will need this document for eVAL application.

Fees

The application fee invoice will be sent to you soon after the initial acceptance letter. This fee will be due within 10 days of receiving your confirmation. The application fee is non-refundable even if you decide to cancel (see below). You’ll receive the invoice for the tuition fee about 2.5 months before the semester starts. The cost of the Malaysian student visa is around 1100 MYR (click here to convert).Find out more about the student visa below. There are some additional fees at the destination related to university services. These include mobility fee and health screening fee (approx. 170 EUR in total). You may also need to purchase some academic material like books for around 200 MYR (clickhere to convert). All the above fees are subject to change.

Cancellation

If you’re unable to participate in the study abroad semester, you have the right to cancel your participation up to 1 month before the semester starts with no extra cost (the application fee will not be refunded, however). Let us know about your cancellation by writing us an email at info[at]asiaexchange.org. Cancellations notified via phone, SMS or by any other means will not be considered. For more detailed information on our cancellation policy, please see terms and conditions for cancellation. We also reserve the right to cancel your participation if your application fee or tuition fee become overdue. For more information, please see our terms and conditions.

Student visa and medical check up

All students wishing to study abroad in Malaysia must apply for a student visa. Please note that applying for a student visa to Malaysia is a multi-step process. The visa application process and the list of the required documents may change at any time. Please take this into account when choosing your study abroad destination. Before you can apply for the student visa you have to apply for a Visa Approval Letter online (eVAL). Please follow the instructions carefully and prepare the required documents early enough. All students are required to attend a health screening during registration at UPM. If the student is not in excellent health, Universiti Putra Malaysia has the right to cancel the study abroad placement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I select my courses? A: You should select the courses in the UPM application formthat you submit as one of the attachments with your application. You can still make changes to your course selections during the registration period at the beginning of your semester.

Q: Can I choose courses from several different faculties? A: Yes! While you’re advised to choose the faculty that best matches your current major, you’re still able to choose courses from several faculties if you wish.

Q: What study level are the courses at Universiti Putra Malaysia? A: The courses with the digits 3xxx and 4xxx are Bachelor level courses, but 4xxx courses can also be accredited as Master’s level courses.

Q: Are the courses organized in English? A: Yes! The official teaching language is English, and you attend the same courses as other international and local students

Q: Do I need to have an English language certificate? A: You do not need an English language certificate either for your application or the student visa

Q: What is the required course attendance? A: The official course attendance requirement is 80 %.

Q: When do the exams take place? A: Exams are included in the semester dates and they take place in the middle and at the end of the semester.

Q: What type of visa do I need to have in order to study in Malaysia? A: You will have to apply first for an eVAL, then for a Single-Entry Visa and finally start the process for your Student Pass as the last step of your registration period at the beginning of the semester.

Q: When can I apply for my visa? A: You can apply for your eVAL as soon as you receive the Official Offer Letter from Universiti Putra Malaysia. You will usually receive this approximately 3 months before the semester starts.

Q: Can I travel outside of Malaysia during the semester? A: Yes, but only after your Student Pass has been processed. The process usually takes 2-4 weeks so we don’t recommend planning any trips outside of Malaysia before your mid-term holiday. Read our general visa instructions here.

Q: Is there on-campus accommodation available at Universiti Putra Malaysia? A: Yes, but the rooms are very modest and not necessarily up to Western standards.

Q: Where and how can I find suitable accommodation options independently? A: Most students prefer staying in the Seri Kembangan area a 10-15 min Grab drive from the campus. For example BluConstellation and Dreamcity are suitable options. You can contact the accommodation agents in the student FB group, for which you’ll receive the link before the semester. Read our accommodation tips here.

Q: Do I need an insurance? A: Yes, an insurance is a requirement for the student visa. You can either purchase one through EMGS during eVAL application or purchase any similar insurance independently. See our recommended travel insurance providers. Please note that you must bring your insurance certificate in English for the Student Pass processing.

Q: Which extra fees do I have to pay on top of the tuition fee? A: On top of the tuition fee, we charge an application fee of 75 EUR. There are also some additional fees which become payable upon arriving in Malaysia, such as Mobility Fee and Student Pass processing fee. Please note that these fees are subject to change. When calculating your budget, please also take into account flights, accommodation and other costs of living.

Q: I need to have my learning agreement/certificate of enrollment signed. What should I do? A: Please fill the document and send it to info@asiaexchange.org.

Q: When will I receive my Official Acceptance Letter? The electronic official letter of acceptance (called Offer Letter) will be sent to you by email 2–3 months before the semester starts. You will need this for your eVAL application. You cannot apply for eVAL with the initial acceptance letter from Asia Exchange.

Q: When will I receive my Transcript of Records? The university prepares and sends the Academic Records usually within 1-2 months after the end of the semester but you can already see your grades in the online student portal before that. The university will inform you when the grades are online.

Student Experiences of Studying at Universiti Putra Malaysia

What students have said

"I never experienced anything like it"

Everyone kept telling me how studying abroad would be one of the best experiences in my life. I kept wondering if that’d be true. Could it live up to the expectations? What would reality be like?

The fact is, it’s all true! I never experienced anything like it, discovering new things every day is absolutely incredible!

Maugan, France

"If someone had told me I would be studying in Asia, I wouldn't have believed them"

Soon our time here has come to the end and I have to admit it has been pretty awesome to study and live in Malaysia. All the people we have met and places we have visited have made this such a unique experience. If someone had told me when I started my studies that I would be studying in Asia, I wouldn’t have believed them. I'm so glad I had this opportunity and that I had the chance to come here with my good friend, it could have been more difficult alone. I'm sure we will both miss this place and all our new friends here.

Janni, Finland

"It truly was as great an experience as it was said to be"

Asia Exchange was very interested in its customers and was quick to offer comprehensive assistance whenever we required it. It was especially great to have Asia Exchange visit us personally in Kuala Lumpur at the university and for dinner. They told us about their own experiences, gave tips concerning the culture and other matters and hung out with us during the evening. We were very satisfied with Asia Exchange’s performance and the exchange studies themselves in Malaysia. It truly was as great an experience as it was said to be. We will surely recommend Asia Exchange to other students as well; perhaps we’ll even do another study abroad semester ourselves! Thanks once again for everything!

Ask Former Students

Ask our former students for practical hints and tips about living abroad and travel arrangements, what the everyday life at the study destination was like.

“Studying abroad was the coolest, the most awesome and illuminating experience of my life so far and I think every student should experience the same. And I would be glad to help you with that! Any questions regarding studying/living abroad and especially in Malaysia you may have, just ask!”